Third Down For What?: Tennessee fans paint ‘the Rock’ in honor of Lil Jon
By Jason Hall
Published:
The love affair between Lil Jon and the Tennessee football program continues. On Friday, the team’s official Twitter page tweeted the following:
#VolNation loves you @LilJon! #ThirdDownForWhat#YEAHHHHpic.twitter.com/9b4jEpAur4
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) October 3, 2014
Related: Third Down For What?: Lil Jon tweets support for Tennessee against Florida
The rapper, producer and Chappelle’s Show skit inspiration has gone back-and-fourth with the Vols’ account this week and is rumored to make an appearance at Saturday’s game against SEC East rival Florida. Fans of the team decided to paint the Rock in gratitude of Jon’s recent support of the program.
Tennessee adopted a new tradition this season, blaring Jon’s hit song “Turn Down For What?” over the Neyland Stadium loudspeakers on opposing team’s third down possessions. While playing the song, the jumbotron displays the phrase “Third Down For What?”, which has become extremely popular among fans, especially within the student section.
Coincidentally, Tennessee’s defense has forced opponents to an 11-of-53 (20.8 percent) third down conversion rate this season. Yesterday, the self-proclaimed King of Crunk sent the following tweet on Tuesday:
@Vol_Football HOLLA @ ME
— INSTAGRAM LILJON (@LilJon) September 30, 2014
The next day, the Atlanta native openly showed his support of the team in Saturday’s matchup:
— INSTAGRAM LILJON (@LilJon) October 1, 2014
The Rock outside McClung Museum is an artifact synonymous with school tradition at the University of Tennessee. The ninety-eight ton, Knox dolomite rock has served as a communication hub and palette of expression for the student body since the 1960s. The Rock has been a mainstay on UT’s campus, changing often with hellos, goodbyes, birthday wishes, marriage proposals and, of course, sports celebrations.
A former freelance journalist from Nashville, Jason covers Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Kentucky
